The police on Monday arrested a man accused of killing a Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) worker and injuring two others in a shootout in Baghbanpura area earlier on Monday in a land grabbing case.
Asif alias Achhi Malang, accused of illegally using a government office in Baghbanpura as his residence, opened fire when LESCO workers asked him to vacate the premises.
One LESCO worker, identified as Mohammad Mansha, was killed on the spot while two others were injured.
Asif opened fire once again when a contingent of policemen reached the spot.
The shootout carried on for almost two hours, creating panic in the neighbourhood, before police arrested the accused wounded.
According to reports, the accused locked himself in a room and started firing at the policemen. The police used tear gas shells to make Asif unconscious and arrested him.
Asif has previously spent jail time in a murder case.
Residents of Baghbanpura locality in large numbers, protested following the incident, throwing Asif’s belongings out of the LESCO office and setting them on fire. The protestors demanded that the accused be brought to justice.
Locals said they had filed a number reports with the police in the past but no action was taken as the accused enjoyed political backing.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Cantt Nadim Khokhar said that no LESCO official sought police help to vacate the land from the accused. He said the police would take action against the accused as per the law.
Taking notice of the incident, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif ordered the Punjab deputy inspector general (DIG) operations of police to submit a report on the incident.
Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif also took notice of the incident. Expressing his sympathies with the relatives of the deceased, the minister announced Rs 2.5 million as compensation for the victim’s family.
A spokesman for LESCO said that the family would continue receiving salary from the utility company and will be allowed to reside in their government residence until the date of retirement of the deceased.
